Latch



(No Model.)

W. E. LUTT.

LATCH.

(Application fded Mar. '7, 1898.)

Ill

Patented Nov. 29, |898.

Nrrn .STATES ATnN'r anic.

VILLIAM EDWTARD IJOTT, OF MINEOLA, TEXAS.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,076, dated November29, 1898.

Application filed March 7, 1898. Serial No. 672,86 '7. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM EDWARD Lorr, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Mineola, in the county of Wood and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches,of whichthe following is a speciflcatiomreference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in locks and latches, andparticularly to that class known as gravity-latches, the object being toprovide novel means whereby a gate or car or other door may be heldclosed by a catch so arranged as to automatically effect alockingengagement with a member carried by said gate or door.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the parts that theyare applicable to sliding or swinging gates or doors, with either ofwhich equal efliciency is acquired. Furthermore, provision is made forattaching the ordinary car-seal in such a manner that the latch cannotbe released without destroying the seal. Other means are also providedfor locking the parts in engagement.

Finally, the object of the invention is to produce a vlock of thecharacter described which will be strong and durable, satisfactory inuse, and comprising few parts so arranged as to allow ready substitutionto renew those worn or broken, thus making it comparatively inexpensiveto produce and sustain.

Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel details of con struction and in the arrangement and combination ofparts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part 0f this specication,where in likecharacters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in which- Figure I is a view of a section of a carprovided with a sliding door with my latch applied. Fig. 2 illustratesmyinvention as applied to a swinging door or gate. Figs. 3, 1l, 5, 6,and 7 are detail views of the several parts of the invention.

In Fig. l of the drawings, l denotes the door-frame of an ordinary car,2 the side of the boxcar, and 3 the sliding door. To the side of the carI bolt an arm 4, havin ga slotted extension 5 at its free end. Near theend of the extension and transversely thereof I provide apertures toreceive a pivotal pin which supports the gravity-latch 6, said latchbeing approximately semicircular, with the end enlarged, as shown at 7,so that its descent may be limited. The edge 8 of the latch is slightlyconcaved, so as to prevent any cam action in case an attempt is made topush the door open without elevating the latch. This arrangement willprevent any accidental openin g of the door. But the edge 9 is curvedthat it may ride over the opposite locking member as it comes in contacttherewith. The opposite locking member consists of an arm 10, attachedto the door, having a slotted extension IO, said arm being rounded atits free end, which engages the latch. The extension is so arranged asto occupy a slightly-lower plane than that of the latch-arm 4.

After the parts are in locked position an effort to slide the door openwould result in an engagement between the extension of the arm l0 andthe concaved edge 8 of the latch, and since the force would thus beapplied below the point at which the latch is pivoted v the tendencywould be to press the latch down;

but since its further descent is obviated by the enlargement 7 engagingthe arm 4.- it will be apparent that an efficient locking actionresults. The arms in this arrangement are provided with offsets to allowfor the thickness of the door, duc., so that the locking parts arebrought into operative position, (as here shown in vertical alinement.)The end of the latch 6 from the pivotal point is so curved as to clearthe arm lO as it is pressed down in the position shown in dotted lines,Fig. I. An aperture I2 in the latch admits a car-seal, or, if desired, alock may be used in this position, or it may encircle the latch with thesame result.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the invention applied to a swingingdoor,and in this arrangement ct denotes an ordinary door-jamb, and h anarm extending outwardly therefrom, said ,arm being slotted to receivethe latch,which is in all respects the same as described in connectionwith Fig. l. c is an arm attached tothe door, provided with a slottedextension which receives the latch. In this construction the concavededge 8 of the latch is adapted to engage the end S of the slottedportion of the arm should the door have a tendency to swing open andaccidental displacement of the latch will be prevented. As the doorswings shut the arm d will come in contact with the rounded edge 9 andsaid latch will be elevated until the slot registers with the latch.

The construction, operation, and advantages will, it is thought, beunderstood from the above, it being noted that changes in theproportions and details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecu re by Let-ters Patent, is-

I. In combination with a sliding door, two arms having slottedextensions, a curved latch having a concaved edge 8, and anoutwardlycurved edge 9, pivoted in the slot of one arm and adapted tofall within the slot of the opposite arm, as and for the purposedescribed.

2. In a device of the character described, an arm having a slottedextension, a latch pivoted within said extension, said latch having aconcaved edge 8 and outwardly-curved edge 9, said latch having its endopposite the pivot enlarged, and an arm secured to the door, said armhaving a slotted extension adapted to register with the slot of thefirstnamed arm, whereby the latch is allowed to fall through said slotand lock the arms together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM ED\VARD LOT'l. XVitnesses:

II. M. GATE, ERNEST L. BRUCE.

